Ten Things You Need to Know Today: Monday 18 Apr 2016

1. Ecuador earthquake: Death toll passes 270

At least 272 people are now known to have been killed in a devastating earthquake in Ecuador. The magnitude 7.8 tremor, which hit on Saturday evening, was the biggest in the country for more than 40 years and could be felt from as far away as Colombia. Ten thousand troops and 3,500 police have been deployed to the area.

Ecuador earthquake death toll rises to 272

2. Osborne: Brexit to make UK 'permanently poorer'

George Osborne has warned today that leaving the EU would make the UK "permanently poorer", after a 200-page Treasury report found that Brexit would cost every household in the country £4,300 a year. Writing in The Times, the Chancellor added that "leaving the EU would be the most extraordinary self-inflicted wound".

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Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'

3. Greenpeace: Arrests after Nelson's Column climb

Four people have been arrested after activists from Greenpeace scaled Nelson's Column in London this morning to place a surgical mask on the statue at the top to highlight air pollution fears. The group said it was targeting 17 statues across the capital , including Eros in Piccadilly Circus and the statue of Oliver Cromwell outside the Houses of Parliament.

4. Oil down after Opec fails to agree freeze

The cost of oil fell on Asian markets this morning after this weekend's long-awaited meeting of the world's major producers failed to provide a solution to the two-year price slump. It had been hoped the Opec nations and Russia would agree to freeze output, which would ease the oversupply of oil on the world's markets.

Oil price posts two-year highs - but how long can it last?

5. BA jet 'hit by drone' on Heathrow landing

Police are investigating after a British Airways pilot said his Airbus A320 had been hit by a civilian drone on its approach to Heathrow airport. The flight from Geneva, BA727, landed safely on Sunday afternoon at Terminal 5, carrying 132 passengers and five crew. It was examined by engineers after landing and no problems were found.

British Airways plane 'struck by drone' at Heathrow

6. World's first Pastafarian wedding held in NZ

A UK-New Zealand couple have become the first in the world to hold a legally-binding Pastafarian wedding. New Zealand formally recognised the religion, invented to prove a point by secularists, in 2015. Pastafarians "believe" a flying spaghetti monster created the world and humans are descended from pirates.

7. Brazil: Congress votes to impeach Rousseff

President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil is to be impeached after losing a vote in congress. She is accused of manipulating national figures to secure re-election in 2014. Her supporters say the charges are trumped-up by enemies. Some 25,000 people took to the streets as the vote took place in Brasilia last night.

Brazil's 'back-stabbing' interim president asks for trust

8. Four candles at the funeral of Ronnie Corbett

Entertainers including Michael Parkinson, Jimmy Tarbuck, Rob Brydon and David Walliams were among the mourners at Ronnie Corbett's funeral in Croydon, south London. The comedian died last month at the age of 85. The funeral service included a recording Corbett made of a song called Up's the Only Way to Go, while four candles were lit at the altar in reference to one of his most famous sketches.

Goodnight from him: Ronnie Corbett dies at the age of 85

9. Celebrity injunction lifted, but PJS still can't be named

An injunction preventing papers naming a married celebrity accused of cheating on his partner has been lifted at the Court of Appeal, but PJS still cannot be named as his lawyers want to take the case to the Supreme Court. The Sun On Sunday, which was banned from running the story in England and Wales, challenged the original ruling after the celebrity was named by media around the world.

Who is PJS? Football stars named as love cheats in US

10. Briefing: the EU referendum campaign rules

With the EU referendum campaign now officially under way, both sides of the debate are now required to comply with Electoral Commission rules on spending. The two groups will get a spending limit of £7m, grants of up to £600,000, campaign broadcasts, free mailshots and access to meeting rooms. In addition to this, the Conservatives can spend £7m, Labour can spend £5.5m, Ukip can spend £4m and the Liberal Democrats can spend £3m to lobby, as dictated by their percentage share of the vote at the last general election.

Remain-voting City lobby group calls for 'dramatic Brexit U-turn'